We’re establishing a new school’s programme to give young residents access to oral health education and assessment in school. Developing healthy habits early in life will help to prevent tooth decay, support their overall wellbeing, and get them off to the best possible start in life.
We are commissioning local dental practices to provide free oral health mouth checks to reception and year three pupils in schools across mid and south Essex. Dental care professionals will use a visual screening method to check the child’s mouth for early childhood caries or cavities. Following this, parents or carers will receive a letter to confirm if a further dental appointment is recommended. As part of the initiative, the pupils, their siblings and parents, will have access to appointments at a local dental practice assigned to the school, if they do not already have a regular dentist, to ensure they can get the care they need.
The programme will also have positive impacts on dental provision by allocating payment to dental practices to provide preventive services, rather than just treatment. The programme will also include training opportunities for dental nurses develop enhanced skills.
Familiarisation sessions
Participating dental practices will also hold open days to provide children and their families with an opportunity to visit the practice for further education and to help address dental phobias.
Dental familiarisation sessions provide children with a positive and interactive introduction to the dental practice environment, helping to reduce fear and anxiety. By allowing children to explore various aspects of a dental visit in a relaxed setting, they become more comfortable with the sights, sounds, and sensations they may encounter during an actual appointment.
During the session, children can:
- Touch and smell rubber gloves, learning how they help prevent the spread of germs.
- Be introduced to face masks, understanding their role in keeping both patients and dentists safe from transmission of germs or saliva.
- See the equipment table and the small tools dentists use.
Hands-on experiences, such as feeling a tiny brush used for fluoride application or holding a cotton wool roll that absorbs saliva, can make dental procedures feel less intimidating. Sitting in the dental chair, pressing buttons, and adjusting the light with a sensor turn a potentially stressful experience into a fun one. They can also feel and hear the air and water spray or suction device before it’s used in their mouth.
This engaging approach helps children develop confidence for future dental visits.